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Gabriel ground his teeth. “I will stop this.” He said the words too quietly, but she heard.

“Go then, be a hero. It’s your one talent.” She slumped back in her seat, looking away from him.

He turned, shoulders squaring, paused, and considered turning back. He hadn’t come intent on fighting. He hadn’t planned to leave things this way, but the sparse emotions slipping through her wall between them were disappointment and regret. Regret was the one that stung the most. As he had expected, she had come to regret being tethered to him in the end.

He became dust, letting a phantom breeze carry him out of her home and into the night. Drifting along the Thames, he retraced Sanura’s path from that first night. He had one week to stop this before meeting with the Fallen. If he could end her now, it would all be avoided

Chapter 37

Adalaide

Henry’s shrill cry made her wince. There were definite downsides to her abilities as a reash, her sharpened senses being one of them. She stepped into the room and was assaulted by a smell that could bring a sailor to tears.

“Poor thing,” she crooned.

Holding her breath, she moved into the room and picked up the babe.

“Adalaide,” Jophiel said behind her, making her jump.

She whirled around, holding her child to her chest. “You startled me.”

“Apologies. I come with news.”

Adalaide moved past her, carrying Henry to the bathing room to rinse him clean. John sniffled and began to wail. “Would you mind?” She tossed her chin toward the baby, who had noticed his brother’s absence.

Jophiel nodded, moving to pick up the infant and cradle him in her arms. “He is hungry,” she told Adalaide.

“He will have to wait. His brother has made a mess of himself. What is your news?”

“Gabriel will meet with the Fallen three nights hence.”

Adalaide darted a dark glance at Jophiel. “You can’t stop him?”

Jophiel gave her a look that asked if she had truly meant that question. No, she supposed she hadn’t. Asking Gabriel to do anything was laughable. She chewed on her bottom lip, turning the faucet and holding out a wrist to test the water’s temperature. “Will you go with him?”

Jophiel shook her head. “We are not on speaking terms at present.”

Adalaide knew the feeling. “Perhaps you could send Raphael or another?”

“He is bringing Sariel.”

“I don’t believe I’ve heard of that one,” Adalaide said lightly.

“His obligation keeps him quite apart from the rest of us.”

Adalaide wasn’t sure what that meant, but she wasn’t sure what many things Jophiel said meant, so she nodded. “At least he will not be alone.”

“He goes to bargain for your release from the spell.”

Adalaide’s nose crinkled. “What does the Fallen have to do with our spell?”

Jophiel looked down at the baby in her arms.

“Jophi?”

Jophiel said nothing.

“Jophiel, what haven’t you told me?”

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